Yes, it’s true that July is technically “pre-fall,” but that doesn’t mean all pre-fall collection dresses are waiting to be worn this month. Miss Holland here looks like she heard EW was throwing a “Christmas in July” party.

Also, it needs to be said: that’s the frumpiest DVF dress we’ve ever seen. There’s just nothing about it that looks chic or elegant to our eyes. And the hair’s kind of a mess. Girl, we hate to be so mean, but you need to turn around and go home. Nothing’s working here. The shoes, maybe. You can keep those.

I don’t think it’s too too fall. The shoes help, as do the lacy, arm bearing sleeves. I think a kicky up-do would have done wonders to lighten up the overall feel. More importantly than the DVF frump factor are the black socks with ugly shoes thing happening on the model. Can I get a Hell to the No on that one?

zenobar

Please, allow me: HELL TO THE NO.

marlie

Same here. HELL NO.

zenobar

Apropos of nothing, I think “Christmas In July” is just about one of the most depressing concepts ever.

http://dontmakeitlikeimdumb.blogspot.com/ annabelle archer

Considering how the stores pimp their wares earlier and earlier, it’s only a matter of time before we are seeing Santa’s Summer Savings ploys. I swear, every year they manage to beat the Christmas spirit right out of me.

sagecreek

I had to go to Hobby Lobby yesterday (I know, I know), and they already have their Xmas stuff out.

I fled.

Carrieanno

Sadly, it was out the beginning of June.

marlie

WHAT?! Just… NO.

zenobar

Agreed! I think a lot of it has to do with how bedraggled and synthetic Christmas decor looks when illuminated by the harsh, retina-searing summer sun.

StellaZafella

Christmas in July used to just be a silly little bar party.

It may be my monitor but, I think this dress looks a little bit apropos for Halloween…maybe with a tiny witch hat and a tray of canapes.

Lady Orwellian

Eventually there will come a point when we will jump the shark and be shopping for x-mas presents on our digital devices on December 25th right after the gifts have been opened just to get a head start on the season. As if we haven’t jumped the shark already. Sigh.

demidaemon

I believe some people already do that, hitting up the pre-New Year’s sales.

Lady Orwellian

Well, now I can officially retire in life.

MilaXX

Ordinarily I’d agree, but Target had a sale & a presale for card holders and I snapped up the Kitchenaide mixer I have been wanting forever for under $200.

zenobar

OK, now that IS like Christmas. In whatever way it’s possible to love an appliance, I love my KitchenAid stand mixer. I love it gooooood. (Did you know you can shred cooked chicken breast in it using the regular mixer attachment? You can. And you should.)

Beardslee

Good tip!

NinaBoo

I am so trying this tonight! Having to shred chicken is what’s been keeping me from making curried chicken salad. Thanks!

Spicytomato1

Haha, having to shred chicken has been keeping me from making a number of things. I feel like a whole new world awaits, thanks to my trusty KitchenAid. Who knew?

MilaXX

Nice tip, but I don’t eat meat. I’m making some dough for whole wheat tortillas tonight.

zenobar

MMMMM. I haven’t busted out the dough hook in a while, but Nigella Lawson’s domestic goddess cookbook has a recipe for focaccia that made me weep garlicky tears of joy, every time I made it.

MilaXX

I’ll look for it. They made arepas on The Chew today. I may try them as well.

majorbedhead

I do that all the time. When I heard that tip a couple of years ago, I sang hosannahs to the highest, and I’m an atheist.

StellaZafella

I’ve had a 5 quart Kitchenaide stand mixer (with a load of accessories) for over 25 years…I envy you the price you found yours for…but I have to say, it’s one of the appliances that seems to last and gets passed down. merry Christmas in July!
PS: The dough hook really works!

MilaXX

If all goes well, I’ll be eating my salad from my very own tortilla bowl for this week’s PR viewing.

Rebecca Wilson

I just moved to Australia, where “Christmas in July” parties are quite popular, due to the climate.
On the upside, “Ugly Xmas Sweater” themed parties don’t happen here!

zenobar

And I always forget that Christmas takes place at the height of summer in Australia. Having lived in the upper Midwest all my life, it’s hard for me to wrap my head around the idea of a hot, sunny Christmas

Jonquil

Hideous carpet dress.

Tatiana Luján

I think this dress is fun and not too christmassy.
The hair needed to be up, hair + dress = too much

Rhonda Shore

It looks cute on the model…maybe funky footwear and edgy hair would help.

Slade Thunderdragon

Her eyes are a beautiful color.

MilaXX

I don’t hate the dress, but I wish she had made it sleeveless.

Spicytomato1

I actually like the dress as is…but in thinking about how to lighten the look up I was thinking a little cap sleeve would be perfect. Sleeveless would be pretty, too.

kimmeister

The lace between the red parts is kind of creeping me out. Like they are millions of mutant insect eggs waiting to hatch.

hughman

Maybe she was thinking “Cinqo de Mayo” cause that fabric is one Mexican Restaurant away from a banquette.

silaria

Things must be bad when you can describe a dress with a boob window as frumpy.

Beardslee

I am, as always, distracted by the gaunt, awkward model. Why is an uninspired pose, scraped back hair, and my father’s socks the preferred way to sell a dress?

Jen

At least she didn’t wear the socks & sandals….

Anathema_Device

I like the dress on the model, where it looks more like a shift dress (as opposed to a fitted dress on Roden).

Rand Ortega

Frumptacular! & for a dress that looks like it was crapted out of the remnants of a day care play room, that’s quite an achievement!

Qitkat

*crapted*! I’ll have to remember that *artsy-fartsy* is so last century.
BTW, that idea should so be used on an ep of PR.

demidaemon

I think we’ll be seeing a lot of stuff crafted out of the Mood sale bin, considering that’s basically what the Punch Me in the Face Unicorn wants to do.

decormaven

The detail on the fabric reminds me of flames. Go ahead and toss this dress in the fire.

Carrieanno

July is “pre-fall?” And all these years I’ve been calling it “summer.”

Deb_Lynn

Seasons: only the fashion world has it right.

crash1212

I like the shoes. That is all. Also, I wonder how that model got my grandfather’s socks?

http://gabyrippling.tumblr.com/ Gaby

I think of pre-fall as “straight up fall” and Fall/Winter as “late fall until spring thaw.”

PastryGoddess

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but she should have worn those “As seen everywhere”Jimmy Choos

ashtangajunkie

The dress against the backdrop is giving me a headache. Yikes.

veleri

actors should be warned in advance what the background will be like, imho.

MoHub

Pre-fall? QVC is already hawking Christmas stuff.

Janet B

Another color combination could have brought this into summer

leonin

One of my favorite red carpet trajectories over the last handful of years was Jessica Chastain, who went from undeniably beautiful but mysteriously awkward-looking on the RC to, through the magic of better dressing and makeup and posing alchemy, consistently looking fantastic. Similarly, Holland is undeniably beautiful but consistently looks odd to me in pictures, too strong an eye and lip making her alarming and cartoonish, and even though the look here does, yup, suck, it’s one of the first RC shots I’ve seen where her face looks as great as it should, so yay. Improvement. Now go home and change, pretty lady.

kim bunchalastnames

huh. i kind of like the dress. maybe it’s just not the right venue/wearer/posture/pose/backdrop as well as season? (i REALLY don’t like it on the model, though, but i think that’s mostly the work of the Socks of Doom.)

bertkeeter

Right on!

Blair Sylvester

That orangey red and black is such a Chinese restaurant cliche in my book

quiltrx

On my computer it looks bright orange (just a hint on the red side of orange). And I immediately started singing, “THIS IS HALLOWEEN…THIS IS HALLOWEEN”
And even still I wanted to try to like it….but I just can’t.

almondemy

I know these girls can’t coordinate with the step-and-repeat, but it clashes horribly with the backdrop and also with her hair. I agree with you gents. Though, can we please get someone to throw a “Christmas in July” celeb-party? It would give me life!

Diego!

Is she Emma Watson’s twin lost and homeless sister? WHAT THE F is that look??? The only thing that can be considered nice here is her purse.

RuthGo

Who is she?

marlie

That dress is ugly and stumpifying. And that’s yoga/errand hair and makeup.